IF YOU GO

Fort Wayne

The site of Indiana’s second-largest city, at the confluence of the St. Marys and St. Joseph
rivers, has long been an important gathering place and transportation hub. Today, Fort Wayne offers
plenty of sites of historical, sporting, artistic and culinary interest for visitors making a day
trip from Columbus.

GETTING THERE

Fort Wayne is about 160 miles northwest of Columbus. Allow at least three hours for the
drive.

Learning MORE

For more information on what to see and do in Fort Wayne, call Visit Fort Wayne at
1-800-767-7752 or visit
www.visitfort wayne.com.

But even before the dawn of recorded history, the natural assets and prime location at the
confluence of the St. Marys and St. Joseph rivers have been luring residents and visitors
alike.

Native Americans who used the rivers as highways between the Great Lakes and Mississippi Valley
called the place Kekionga. Chief Little Turtle, who defeated the U.S. Army twice nearby, described
it as a “glorious gate."

Early French traders built a post known as Fort St. Philippe and later as Fort Miamies. Men
serving under U.S. Gen. “Mad” Anthony Wayne constructed a log fortification and named it after
their commander — a name that finally stuck.

With rivers, trails and later canals and highways all converging at the site, Fort Wayne became
an important transportation hub and eventually an industrial center.

Today, the city offers plenty of diversions for Columbus day-trippers who are interested in
history, sports or food.

The town’s early history gets a well-deserved nod at Historic Fort Wayne, a re-created log
outpost near where the Maumee River forms from the confluence of its two tributaries.

Visitors can see the type of quarters that housed early American soldiers and explore a small
complex that includes a blacksmith shop, bakery, and log homes similar to those of frontier Indian
traders.

The grounds of the old fort are a city park and can be visited anytime. The fort also holds
special events throughout the year, including a program focusing on Revolutionary War times on July
13-14 and one exploring the even earlier Fort Miamies days on Aug. 24-25.

Local history is explored more in-depth at the Fort Wayne Historical Society History Center in
the old City Hall built in 1893.

The building itself is an architectural marvel, constructed from sandstone in a weighty
Richardson Romanesque style for a then-pricey $69,000 — which moved critics of the day to refer to
it as the “Hapsburg Horror.”

Some of the most interesting displays at the history center come from the late 1800s, when the
city was, according to an account in the contemporary
Chicago Tribune, “the most lawless town in Indiana.”

One piece of memorabilia that struck my fancy is purported to be the stub of the cigar smoked in
1883 by the executioner at the city’s last public hanging. A spectator who supposedly grabbed the
discarded stub as a “good luck” souvenir donated the stogie to the museum in 1963.

Visitors who are sated with history can stroll through the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical
Conservatory, a downtown oasis with three greenhouse biomes as well as lovely outdoor plantings.
The conservatory also offers plenty of kids’ activities and play places.

Rising on each side of the conservatory are the magnificent towers of the Cathedral of the
Immaculate Conception and the grandstands of the beautiful 4-year-old Parkview Field minor league
baseball park — both worthy of exploration.

Visitors to the cathedral can find a brochure with a self-guided tour describing the history of
the church and many of its architectural and ornamental features — including the intricate
stained-glass windows, the baptistery and the “mission crucifix” that dates from the parish’s
earliest days in the 1830s.

Parkview Field is home to the single-A Fort Wayne TinCaps, named in honor of the headgear of
choice of local hero Johnny Appleseed. The park features amenities such as the Appleseed Picnic
Pavilion and a rooftop party area reminiscent of Chicago’s Wrigley Field.

Visitors who haven’t filled up on ballpark hot dogs will find plenty of good dining options in
Fort Wayne.

Mad Anthony Brewing Co. features some good craft brews and terrific burgers. My waitress
credited the excellence of the burger to local supplier Tim Didier Meats.

Another meal, at the popular steakhouse BakerStreet, started with some great warm pretzel
bread.

My entree was a couple of melt-in-your-mouth beef filet medallions on a bed of risotto set atop
a slightly sweet glaze with a side of lightly breaded fried onions.

“We have a great meat supplier,” said my waiter, seeing my delighted expression.